THE EDGE OF CHAOS
Order and chaos are opposites. Strangely, in our decimal system, there is no apparent difference between the digits of π and a random1 sequence of integers.
π — the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter — is infinitely precise, fully ordered by its formula. The digits in a random sequence of integers occur in a completely unpredictable order, equalling chaos.
In this book of 200 pages, order and chaos meet face-to-face: the digits of π on the left pages and the random digits on the right pages.
Surprisingly, the opposites seem identical in nature to the human eye. Moreover, also statistically there appears to be no difference between these sequences. While π's digits are not random at all (they follow a precise formula), they exhibit behaviours consistent with random sequences. The mathematical proof of whether π is normal is still an open question. Perhaps this book, when stared at long enough, can provide an intuition towards the proof or rejection of π's normality.
At the inherently unstable edge of chaos, creative breakthroughs occur. In this book, the edge of chaos is the gutter. Look for inspiration where the pages collide into the dark spine.
205 pages
EUR 35
1 The random numbers in this book are generated from atmospheric noise by random.org. They are true random numbers — unless you want to push the case for a fully deterministic universe. Even then, the statistical characteristics of the random.org numbers remain suitable for our purpose in every practical sense.
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